Au. What Story is this you are telling me of?

Ch.  Crysippus is reported to have been so intent upon his logical Subtilties, that he would have been starved at Table, unless his Maid Melissa had put the Meat into his Mouth.

Au. He did not deserve to have his Life sav’d; but if Silence is an Offence to you, and you love a noisy Feast, you have gotten that will make one.

Ch. I remember I have.  That’s very well minded:  We must drink more freely, we ought to drink more largely, more Wine and less Water.

      You have hit on the Matter.

Au. You have hit the Nail on the Head.  You are in the Right.  You have hit the Mark.  For,

Foecundi calices quem non fecere disertum?

Ch. That is very learnedly spoken, Austin, and so indeed is all that comes from you; but since we are fallen into a Discourse concerning Wine, since we have happen’d to make mention of Wine, I have a mind to ask you, for what Reason the Ancients, who will have Bacchus the Inventor of Wine, call him the God of the Poets?  What has that drunken God to do with Poets, who are the Votaries of the Virgin Muses?

Au. By Bacchus, this is a Question fit to be put over a Bottle.  But I see very well, what your Question drives at.

Ch. What, prithee?

Au. You very cunningly put a Question about Wine, by a French Trick, which I believe you learn’d at Paris, that you may save your Wine by that Means.  Ah, go your Way, I see you’re a Sophister; you have made a good Proficiency in that School.

Ch. Well, I take all your Jokes; I’ll return the like to you, when Opportunity shall offer.  But to the Matter in Hand.

Au. I’ll go on, but I’ll drink first, for it is absurd to dispute about a tippling Question with a dry Throat.  Here’s to you Christian.  Half this Cup to you.

Ch. I thank you kindly.  God bless it to you, much good may it do you.

Au. Now I’m ready, at your Service.  I’ll do it as well as I can after my Manner.  That they have given a Boy’s Face to Bacchus, has this Mystery in it; that Wine being drank, takes away Cares and Vexations from our Minds, and adds a Sort of a Chearfulness to them.  And for this Reason, it adds a Sort of Youthfulness even to old Men, in that it makes them more chearful, and of a better Complexion.  The same thing Horace in many Places, and particularly testifies in these Verses: 

Ad mare cum veni, generosum et lene requiro, Quod curas abigat, quod cum spe divite manet.  In venas, animumque meum, quod verba ministret.  Quod me Lucanoe juvenem commendet amicae.

For that they have assign’d the Poets to this Deity, I believe by it they design’d to intimate this, that Wine both stirs up Wit and administers Eloquence; which two Things are very fit for Poets.  Whence it comes to pass, that your Water Drinkers make poor Verses.  For Bacchus is of a fiery Constitution naturally, but he is made more temperate, being united with the Nymphs.  Have you been answer’d to your Satisfaction?